Ski binding having an adjustable heel holder

ABSTRACT

Heel holder for a ski binding. In order quickly to adjust a ski binding to boots of different sizes, there is provided means for connecting a heel holder to selectable positions in a boot plate. A preferred embodiment is disclosed comprising a coiled spring encircling a Bowden wire. Said Bowden wire is headed at each end and received into suitable slotted means arranged along each side of the boot plate. Said slotted means may include enlargements for receiving the headed ends of said Bowden wire and said slotted means may be inclined as required to be aligned with the direction of force imposed between said Bowden wire and said boot plate.

United States Patent [191 Koos [ 1 Dec. 9, 1975 SKI BINDING HAVING AN ADJUSTABLE HEEL HOLDER [75] Inventor: Josef Koos, Vienna, Austria [73] Assignee: Gertsch AG, Zug, Switzerland [22] Filed: July 22, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 491,108

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 20, 1973 Austria 6452/73 [52] US. Cl. 280/1L35 K [51] Int. Cl. A63C 9/086 [58] Field 0fSearch...280/l1.35 K, 11.35 C, 11.35 H. 280/11.35 F, 11.35 Q

Primary Examinerl(enneth H. Betts Assistant ExaminerDavid M. Mitchell Attorney, Agent, or FirmWoodhams, Blanchard and Flynn 1 71 ABSTRACT Heel holder for a ski binding. In order quickly to adjust a ski binding to boots of different sizes, there is provided means for connecting a heel holder to selectable positions in a boot plate. A preferred embodiment is disclosed comprising a coiled spring encircling a Bowden wire. Said Bowden wire is headed at each end and received into suitable slotted means arranged along each side of the boot plate. Said slotted means may include enlargements for receiving the headed ends of said Bowden wire and said slotted means may be inclined as required to be aligned with the direction of force imposed between said Bowden wire and said boot plate.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 1 of 2 3,924,868

US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,924,868

SKI BINDING HAVING AN ADJUSTABLE HEEL HOLDER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a ski binding for a ski boot which is held on a plate in which resilient holding elements are provided for holding the ski boot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Such ski bindings are known in various forms. For example, there is already one such ski binding on the market in which the holding element contains rectangularly bent holding members which are at one end inserted into the plate and at the other end connected to one another by a holding spring.

To adjust the ski binding for ski boots of different sizes, openings are provided on the side of the plate, into which openings the ends of the rectangularly bent holding elements can be inserted. To avoid unintended escape therefrom of the holding elements, said open ings often end in a tapered portion in which the holding parts engage with the L-shaped ends. After adjustment of the angular holding elements in the locking position, they are unable to slide out of said openings.

This, in other respects advantageous, locking mechanism is complicated to install or remove and requires installing or removing of the entire holding device whenever same is to be adjusted to ski boots of different sizes.

A different construction is known from Swiss Pat. No. 500,729. In this adjusting mechanism, there are two parts which can be adjusted with respect to one another and there is at least one threaded pin in one of said parts which is guided in a smooth bore of the other part. A threaded nut which is held in a recess of the second part cooperates with said pin whereby the adjustment of the two parts is accomplished by a relative rotation between the pin and the threaded nut.

In this construction also a quick adjustment is somewhat complicated; in addition there is the further disadvantage that this construction is relatively expensive.

The objective of the invention is to produce a simple, inexpensive holder, which can be installed or readjusted to various boot sizes in a simple manner and quickly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This objective is reached according to the invention by providing the rear holding element with a helical coil compression spring which extends around a Bowden wire and both ends of the Bowden wire engage openings, which are provided on the heel portion of the plate, and are held in said openings by means of ball heads or the like connected to its ends.

Due to the fact that the Bowden wire can be pulled simply laterally out of the openings and then downwardly or, in reverse, can be inserted into said openings, a simple installation of the holding part is provided. Further this device is easy to manufacture and makes it possible to make available such bindings also for the less demanding skier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further advantages and details of the ski binding of the invention will be discussed more in detail in connection with the drawings which illustrate various exemplary embodiments.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inventive ski binding,

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line III-III of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 illustrates in an enlarged scale a detail of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a different embodiment of the holding part of the holding mechanism seen from the side, and

FIG. 6 illustrates a further detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As can be seen from FIGS. l and 2, the ski boot 2 which is illustrated only by dash-dotted lines rests on the ski l with the interpositioning of a plate 3. The rear holding part 4, which is the actual subject matter of the invention, consists of a spring 5, which extends around a Bowden wire 6 (compare for example FIG. 2). The holding part 4 engages the plate 3 which latter has openings 9.

As can better be understood from FIGS. 2 to 4, the Bowden wire 6 has ends 7 which engage the openings 9. Ball heads 8 are provided on, and connected to, the ends 7 of the Bowden wire 6. The connection may be of any type, however, a fixed connection is preferred, advantageously soldering. However, casting or pressing can also be used.

In the simplest form, the openings 9 extend parallel to one another and the ends of the openings which are positioned closer to the ski boot 2 can be sloped or rounded off. A preferred embodiment is seen in that the slope or rounding 1 1 is so positioned in all ski boot sizes to avoid materially deflecting the line of force created between the support point. of the ball head 8 and the support member 14 of the holding part.

The direction of such line of force is further accommodated by providing the openings 9 in the plate 3 with different slopes each corresponding to the respective direction of such lines of force. This embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein the openings 9, 9', 9" illustrate the different slopes.

The sides 12 of the openings 9, 9', 9" have a width which corresponds to the diameter of the Bowden wire 6. The lower parts 13 of the openings are widened to receive the.ball heads 8. This widening is done to enable the ball heads 8 to be held therein and to prevent any slipping of said ball heads either upwardly or sidewardly.

The presently known support member 14 is arranged in the central zone 6a of the Bowden wire 6. If the spring consists of two parts 5a, 5b, then the support member 14 has an opening which tapers from the sides inwardly in order to prevent shifting of the spring parts 5a, 5b with respect to one another. The length of the spring 5, particularly the spring parts 5a, 5b, is dimensioned such that it can be compressed in relation to the Bowden wire 6 which is installed in the binding. This causes an initial tension of the holding element 4, which further increases the security of the ski boot holder.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated and described exemplary embodiments. Various changes can be made without departing from the scope of protection. For example the upper part of the openings may be slightly wider and the necessary slope may be caused only by the automatic positioning of the ball head in its seat. To introduce the Bowden wire into the openings it is possible to provide a small handle at the lower end of the spring. Same may then either slide freely on the Bowden wire or may be connected to the spring. Also the holder in the central zone may be constructed differently. For example, two control elements can be provided laterally of the support member by means of which the initial tension of the spring parts can be regulated.

Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed above for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that variations or modifications thereof which lie within the scope of the appended claims are fully contemplated.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A safety ski binding for ski boots, comprising:

a plate separate from said ski and adapted to have a sole of a ski boot mounted on an upper surface thereof;

holding means connected to said plate for holding a heel portion of said ski boot onto said upper surface of said plate, said holding means comprising (1) a control cable having enlargements on the opposite free ends thereof, (2) at least a pair of recesses in said plate, said recesses sized to receive said control cable therein, retain said enlargements therein, and prevent passage of said enlargements therethrough so that said control cable extends between said pair of recesses in vertically spaced relation to said upper surface of said ski, (3) a holding member mounted on said control cable for engaging and holding said heel portion of said ski boot onto said upper surface of said plate and (4) a 4 spring located between said enlargements, engaging said holding member and encircling said control cable, the ends of said spring adjacent said enlargements engaging said upper surface to urge said enlargements into said recesses.

2. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said pair of recesses in said plate are elongated slots in the opposite side edges of said plate, which slots have a longitudinal axis inclined to the plane of said upper surface of said plate, each of said slots having at their ends adjacent said ski boot a slope or curved portion for permitting a movement of said control cable relative to said plate without affecting the holding forces on said control cable holding said ski boot on said plate, said holding forces having a vector component coextensive with said control cable.

3. A ski binding according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of said slots are provided in the edges of said plate, each being differently inclined with respect to the plane of the upper surface of said plate.

4. A ski binding according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of said slots are provided in the edges of said plate, each of said slots being parallel to one another.

5. A ski binding according to claim 2, wherein said slots extend through said plate from said upper surface to a lower surface and the lower ends thereof are enlarged to receive said enlargements therein, the outwardly opening sides of said slots have a width corresponding to the diameter of said control cable.

6. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said spring consists of two springs encircling said control cable with the ends thereof remote from said enlargements engaging said holding member. 

1. A safety ski binding for ski boots, comprising: a plate separate from said ski and adapted to have a sole of a ski boot mounted on an upper surface thereof; holding means connected to said plate for holding a heel portion of said ski boot onto said upper surface of said plate, said holding means comprising (1) a control cable having enlargements on the opposite free ends thereof, (2) at least a pair of recesses in said plate, said recesses sized to receive said control cable therein, retain said enlargements therein, and prevent passage of said enlargements therethrough so that said control cable extends between said pair of recesses in vertically spaced relation to said upper surface of said ski, (3) a holding member mounted on said control cable for engaging and holding said heel portion of said ski boot onto said upper surface of said plate and (4) a spring located between said enlargements, engaging said holding member and encircling said control cable, the ends of said spring adjacent said enlargements engaging said upper surface to urge said enlargements into said recesses.
 2. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said pair of recesses in said plate are elongated slots in the opposite side edges of said plate, which slots have a longitudinal axis inclined to the plane of said upper surface of said plate, each of said slots having at their ends adjacent said ski boot a slope or curved portion for permitting a movement of said control cable relative to said plate without affecting the holding forces on said control cable holding said ski boot on said plate, said holding forces having a vector component coextensive with said control cable.
 3. A ski binding according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of said slots are provided in the edges of said plate, each being differently inclined with respect to the plane of the upper surface of said plate.
 4. A ski binding according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of said slots are provided in the edges of said plate, each of said slots being parallel to one another.
 5. A ski binding according to claim 2, wherein said slots extend through said plate from said upper surface to a lower surface and the lower ends thereof are enlarged to receive said enlargements therein, the outwardly opening sides of said slots have a width corresponding to the diameter of said control cable.
 6. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said spring consists of two springs encircling said control cable with the ends thereof remote from said enlargements engaging said holding member. 